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Its hard to believe that whilst the stand was being built along the Park Road side of the ground, the terracing remained open. How well planned was that! It wouldnt be allowed today but back then it meant we could still have 30,000+ crowds for the end of season run in games.

I had always wondered how they built the stand entirely during the closed season in 1969. Now I realise they didn't. I was standing on that side of the ground for that match against Boro in 1969 and in my memory I've always pictured standing at the front under a roof. I now realise my mermory wasn't playing tricks!

68/9 was my first Palace season; I watched half a dozen games, all bar one from the terracing on that side of the ground, so the Wait stand grew around that position.

When did it start being built? I had a gap in attendance between the abandoned Blackpool match, where I don't think it had been started, to the Boro match when it was well underway.

If I recall correctly watching from the Holmesdale by that Blackpool game in early December 68, part of the structure at the Holmesdale end of the Arthur, was already up.

By the Fulham game the shell was up and if not all, most of the roof was on and there was a plywood fence roughly where the wall was to be built beweeen the seated part of the stand and the standing enclosure.

Again if I recall correctly the 68/69 version of the HF moved from the Holmesdale to under the newley installed roof, or part of the roof for the Cardiff home match. They were in the promotion hunt, but we tore them to pieces with Roger Hoy having a fantastc game. I am positive it was that game, although the previous weeks game when we beat Hull 2-0 after the long break due to the bad weather is a bit hazy and it could have been that game?

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John Joseph (Johnny) "Budgie" Byrne (13 May 1939 – 27 October 1999) the finest footballer to wear the claret and Blue of the "Glaziers"

When did it start being built? I had a gap in attendance between the abandoned Blackpool match, where I don't think it had been started, to the Boro match when it was well underway.

Started sometime between August and December 1968.

Attached are two pics, Palace v Charlton 31st August 1968 and v Blackpool, the abandoned game of 28th December. The former showing little work if any having started on the Park Road side and the latter showing the beginnings of the framework of the stand with the crane in the background and spectators standing underneath!!

Don't ever lose those, what a brilliant bit of Palace history that is associated to your family. Brilliant!

I haven't watched a game from that stand in probably 10+ years (last time probably Wimbledon 'away') but I always remember the mens toilets being down some stairs and always puddles on the floor!

__________________"Crystal Palace is cult viewing, like a late night TV show that only a few people know about, like a precious record that was never number one but makes everybody who knows it want to dance and sing… and sometimes cry." Tony, 3-7-2001

"Well, as I said before, we are only 6 points behind 4th from bottom with the prize of an additional £65 million (minimum) if we stay up. So, we'd be bonkers if that wasn't the top priority. Nobody's giving up on staying in this league." CPFC2010, 5-11-2013

There’s an awful lot of technical drawings, with calculations for loadings etc....quite useful for the Club if they are intending on refurbishing the structure; although I expect they have these drawings themselves.

Don't assume the club have them, there has been numerous changes of owners and even just club offices since then. They could be useful when they look to take down the gantry and put new floodlights on the AW roof, plus long term they are thinking about improving the concourse

__________________"Crystal Palace is cult viewing, like a late night TV show that only a few people know about, like a precious record that was never number one but makes everybody who knows it want to dance and sing… and sometimes cry." Tony, 3-7-2001

"Well, as I said before, we are only 6 points behind 4th from bottom with the prize of an additional £65 million (minimum) if we stay up. So, we'd be bonkers if that wasn't the top priority. Nobody's giving up on staying in this league." CPFC2010, 5-11-2013

Arthur Wait was my father. I should like to correct the comment that his company made a profit out of the construction of the Arthur Wait Stand. This is not so. In those days the clubs were all privately financed and so I believe that largely his own money was used to finance the stand. He retired from his building company at the age of 60 and decided to build the stand himself - as site agent - in the closed season. He imported much of his labour from ex-staff around the south coast where most of his building operations had been in place. Not allowing anyone to leave the job for more time than was necessary, for instance travelling to and from work, he purchased beds and all associated items to allow all the working staff to eat and sleep at Selhurst Park. During that period he lost 3stone in weight, but adored every minute. The stand was completed and ready for the start of the following season. As a family we were all immensely proud of this great achievement. And as a footnote I should like to add that AJ never took any financial rewards in any way from Crystal Palace indeed it is mooted but never proved that his personal investment in the club during the 50s, 60s and early 70s was in excess of £3m. So please - let's get the record straight. MM

Is anyone in touch with Maureen? We should get her back - have an in-depth interview - anything she remembers of her old man. Would be so fascinating.